Real Problems Podcast

This episode is explicitly about sex. It is well known that Lauren struggles with severe endometriosis and some other physical health issues, lesser known though is the heavy impact this has on a person's sex life and in turn...emotional health. Sex undeniably has a significant connection to a person's emotional and mental wellbeing, and the goal of this episode is to give listeners with similar health issues tools to manage and improve their sex lives.

Have you tried therapy, but it didn't work the first time (or the second)? Are you considering trying therapy, but are worried it won't work? Lauren and Sophia are here to tell you DON'T GIVE UP. Your happiness is worth it. Both hosts have experienced failure in their mental health journeys and this episode really exemplifies how the age old saying “If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again” rings absolutely true. Make the leap, try therapy, and if you're afraid… listen to this episode.

Just as the title describes, this episode is all about debunking common stereotypes, stigmas, misconceptions, and/or myths about therapy. Lauren and Sophia confront these common reasons that people choose to avoid therapy and discuss other perspectives. "Reasons" include, "I don't need therapy", "It's too expensive", "Therapy doesn't work", "I don't want to be on meds", and many more... --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis...all names that come with some pretty negative stereotypes. But these are actual mental illnesses that people we love go through. Sophia talks to her aunt who suffers from schizoaffective disorder, and they unravel her complicated story. This episode aims to shed light on what it's like to have an illness like this, what it's like for loved ones, and how there is hope for people struggling with this condition.

When we can't understand why someone acts the way they do, we shut down and get frustrated. Hosts Lauren and Sophia discuss styles of communication and how to recognize those styles to make it easier to handle relationships with people who communicate differently than you.

Being home is great; it's relaxing and there's a feeling of love, and comfort in the air... but sometimes the holidays with family can get a little crazy. Today Lauren and Sophia discuss navigating family drama, arguments, and stress over the holidays, they give listeners tips on how to have a great holiday season this year. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Both Lauren and Sophia have been experiencing this recently. They talk about what it's like to feel useless, unimportant, and unsuccessful, and why they are feeling that way. Later they discuss how they've worked through those emotions, and they take listeners through a little thought game to help you all create that mindset shift too. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We're not talking about the pain in your legs as you're getting taller. This episode is all about transitional periods in life that almost always come with growth, and almost always come with pain. Whether its growing up, growing apart, or growing out of...the hosts hope this episode will make those transitional times a little less lonely and a little less painful for their listeners.

I think we all know that feeling that comes along with making a really tough decision. Stress...anxiety...confusion...occasionally panic. In this episode Lauren and Sophia discuss how they work through really challenging decisions and bring up some examples of even life and death choices they've had to make in their lives. They also explain several other ways to work through a difficult decision to hopefully make decision-making easier for their listeners. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sophia explores the heavy topic of addiction with Richard, a "recovering" heroin addict. Richard has been sober for over 4 years, but as addiction is a life-long disease, it is something you are always recovering from. Richard tells his story, including how and why his addiction began, what it was like during those years, and how he got help. Sophia and Richard also discuss how to help someone you love if they are struggling with addiction. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode provides an introduction to understanding depression. The hosts go through what depression feels like for them, when they first noticed they struggled with it, and what they do to help themselves out of a major depressive state. They also give insight on how they manage their depression on a regular basis to help major depressive episodes happen less frequently and less intensely.

Learning how to love yourself is SO important for your mental health journey. Sophia is solo in this episode and she gets down to the basics, letting listeners know where and how to start when it comes to loving yourself.

In this episode, Lauren and Sophia discuss one of the biggest stressors out there, and that is change. Facing unknowns, nostalgia for what is being lost, a lack of control...we know. It's hard. The hosts provide tips and insight about how they each cope with change in hopes that it makes it easier for anyone listening to deal with their own life changes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Do you struggle with remaining present, or with racing thoughts? Have you ever tried to be present? If you've never asked those questions before, or if you do struggle with being present, then this episode is our "present" to you. Lauren and Sophia discuss techniques that helped them become present and help keep them there. They also unpack what it means to be present for them.

You guessed it this episode is about..... STRESS! Can we stress that enough? Listen in while the hosts briefly discuss different types of stress and different ways that stress manifests. They focus on getting you to notice how YOUR stress expresses itself. Lauren and Sophia explain how stress presents in their lives and then they go on to share the #1 tool that they each use to tackle their stress.

Covid-19 changed the way the work force operated for the course of the pandemic, and possibly shifted the way we think about work and life and balance forever. As restrictions are being lifted some companies are starting to transition back into offices, and it's creating frustration for a lot of people, including Sophia. This episode discusses this shift, the frustration, the idea of a work/life balance, mental health and how it's viewed in the workplace, and suggestions for how to create your own work/life balance.

Lauren and Sophia share how sex impacts and has impacted their lives and their mental wellbeing. Questions are raised about how sex can influence others on a societal level and on a personal level. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode is a little bit different. Lauren and Sophia jump full force into breaking down an issue that Lauren has been struggling with. You'll get a firsthand look at the way our brains process new challenges that come up. In this episode you'll hear about ADHD, neurodiversity, and how the desire for people to like you creates massive anxiety. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Join the hosts today as they break down what it means to feel stable on a day to day basis. Lauren and Sophia discuss how they've navigated through some recent challenging things in their lives that aren't huge or small (hence "medium") that come up but don't detract from their over all sense of stability. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Yes, pun intended. No this is not an episode about wearing masks during coronavirus (although there may be a related joke or two...). Join the hosts today as they discuss "masking" or hiding your emotions. Why we do it, how we do it, and some of the negative consequences that can arise from it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Somehow the world lined up in such a perfect way that Lauren and Sophia both became seriously ill at the same time. This impromptu episode talks about the difficulty of keeping your mental health in check when your physical health is failing. The hosts talk about coronavirus, self judgement, and they offer advice on things to focus on and activities to engage in while sick in order to take care of your mental health. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The title really does a good job explaining this one. If you're dealing with a break up, or if you've ever dealt with a break up (which is almost everyone at some point in life), this episode is for you. Lauren and Sophia attempt to emphasize just how real and impactful a break up is for your mental health, and they also explore how your relationship with yourself can be an important factor in the pain you experience during relationship grief.  --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode is for anxious people, or not anxious people... Basically if you've ever felt stressed, worried, nervous, or anxious then this episode is for you. If you don't know whether or not you've felt those things, this episode is for you too. Lauren and Sophia go back to the basics with anxiety. Sophia discusses her anxious thought processes and gives you the first steps she learned in therapy about re-wiring her brain. We swear it's not as hopeless as it feels. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

No, we are not talking about physical flags...in case that was a question... When we say "Green Flags" we mean the metaphorical ones that are found in relationships with other humans. It seems that our brains are wired to look for negative traits in people, we tend to focus on what to avoid or "Red Flags" . This episode is about reframing that outlook and creating a positive mindset shift. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

So you've been making progress on your mental health, but you still have moments or hours, or days sometimes where you struggle. What is up with that? In this episode, Lauren and Sophia talk about their journey with progress. The big message here is that progress is NOT LINEAR. There will be ups and downs, ebbs and flows, but that is not regression. That is normal, notice your progress and be proud! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We've all heard this word before, it refers to... the edge of a territory, right? In this episode Lauren and Sophia explore the meaning of boundaries. They share how, when, and why boundaries became important to them, and they give some tips on how to start setting boundaries for yourself. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Do you have a fever too? Cause we've definitely been burning lately, burning-out that is. During this episode, Lauren and Sophia discuss burnout. What it is, how they deal with it, and how to prevent it from happening in the future.   --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Listen to our mini introduction to get a basic overview of what our podcast is all about!

REAL PROBLEMS and how they present themselves in the world. Get to know the hosts, and listen to a basic summary of everything Sophia and Lauren deal with. The goal of this episode is to emphasize that your problems are real, valid, acceptable, and did we say REAL...? :) End rant --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app